Cavaliers knock off ORC, Cameron Laird's half-ton key in Royal Hotel Cup season opener

Laird hammered 68 off 46 to propel Cavaliers to 6-169, and ultimately a 16-run victory over ORC to kick-off both sides' Twenty20 season.

Laird strolled out to the crease with his side in a touch of bother, going from 1-0 to 2-10 and then 3-47 when he joined Wes Lummis (33 off 28) out in the middle of Wade Park.

The pair then rescued Cavaliers, putting on 97 for the fourth wicket - Laird hitting six boundaries and clearing the fence three times.

And despite the Tigers' best efforts with the willow, Cavs' held on to claim a crucial, early-season win.

But Laird is confident if it wasn't him popping Cavs on his back on Sunday, someone else would have done the job.

"We've discussed this throughout the year, we bat to 12," Laird said.

"Obviously there's a bit of pressure losing early wickets, but I've got full faith in the guys all the way down. Any of the guys in our tail would bat top five at other clubs."

He said his partnership with Lummis was about stabilising things and "not going out there and playing silly shots".

At 19, too, Laird says it's only now, after a few seasons in grade already, that's his beginning to find batting easier against grown men.

"Myself, I'm a small fella and in the last six to eight months I've really built into the body and it makes it a bit easier to clear the fence, especially in T20," he added.

Jacob Ryan struck early for the Tigers picking up Hugh Middleton (0) with the second ball of the game and when Angus Daymond grabbed the wicket of Matt Corben (five) ORC was on top.

But Cavaliers' rebuilt and a target of 170 was always going to prove tricky.

Ethan Muller (49) and Ben Cant (41) both put together quick-fire 40s but Kyle Buckley (2-33) removed the former at a key point in the game to hand Cavs' the ascendancy.

"I thought George Cummings' left-arm orthodox was great, too," Laird added.

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